My hen hatched a chick !

[Harry4802]

My hen hatched a chick ! She won't let me near it. Will she feed it ? Should I put food and water up in the coop ? Ty

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Where did she hatch it? Are there more eggs?

 

[nuthatched]

You can get chick feed, put it out and let her take care of it from there.

 

[Tonyroo]

Keep food and water close to the hen and chick, use chick starter feed.

 

[Harry4802]

Where did she hatch it? Are there more eggs?

She hatched it in the coop. There was only one egg. This is day two. Will get chick food today.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

She hatched it in the coop. There was only one egg. This is day two. Will get chick food today.

What do you normally feed your flock? If you feed a flock raiser/all flock there is no need to get new food. Make sure there is a chick safe waterer so the little will have access to water, other than that mom will show it where the food is. How is the broody acting towards the rest of the flock?

 

[Ridgerunner]

My hen hatched a chick ! She won't let me near it. Will she feed it ? Should I put food and water up in the coop ?

So your coop is elevated if you can out food and water up in it. I assume there is a ramp up to it. I don't know how big that coop is, that could make a difference. Is she still on the nest or has she brought the chick to the coop floor? We all have different facilities so we can and usually do get different results.

I have a large (8' x 12') ground level coop. When my hens start hatching I put food and water on the coop floor. When she brings the chicks off of the nest she typically keeps them in the coop for two or three days before she takes them outside. After she takes them outside, she takes them out every day all day after that, bringing them back in the coop to sleep at night. My nests are 2 to 4 feet off of the coop floor so she does not return there, she settles down on the coop floor to cover them for the night. I have a lot of grassy area outside so they stay on that grass practically all day.

I'm always down there as it is getting dark to lock them in for the night. That gives me a chance to check on them. Thery are practically always OK but there have been a couple of times all the chicks did not get back in. You know because they are peeping loudly. That hapens more often with elevated coops. The chicks do not know to go to the end of the ramp and walk up. They physically can but just don't know to. To me it would be important to be there as it is getting dark in case you have to help. It sounds like you have a god broody hen that is protective of her chick. That is the way it is supposed to be but it might make it interesting when you are trying to help her.

Your job is to have food and water where the chick can get to it after the hen brings it off of the nest and be there as it is getting dark in case they need help. I don't really do more than that.

 

[Harry4802]

So your coop is elevated if you can out food and water up in it. I assume there is a ramp up to it. I don't know how big that coop is, that could make a difference. Is she still on the nest or has she brought the chick to the coop floor? We all have different facilities so we can and usually do get different results.

I have a large (8' x 12') ground level coop. When my hens start hatching I put food and water on the coop floor. When she brings the chicks off of the nest she typically keeps them in the coop for two or three days before she takes them outside. After she takes them outside, she takes them out every day all day after that, bringing them back in the coop to sleep at night. My nests are 2 to 4 feet off of the coop floor so she does not return there, she settles down on the coop floor to cover them for the night. I have a lot of grassy area outside so they stay on that grass practically all day.

I'm always down there as it is getting dark to lock them in for the night. That gives me a chance to check on them. Thery are practically always OK but there have been a couple of times all the chicks did not get back in. You know because they are peeping loudly. That hapens more often with elevated coops. The chicks do not know to go to the end of the ramp and walk up. They physically can but just don't know to. To me it would be important to be there as it is getting dark in case you have to help. It sounds like you have a god broody hen that is protective of her chick. That is the way it is supposed to be but it might make it interesting when you are trying to help her.

Your job is to have food and water where the chick can get to it after the hen brings it off of the nest and be there as it is getting dark in case they need help. I don't really do more than that.

The chick is out today ! I blocked off the tunnel to the run so mama and chick can have the coop and coop floor to themselves. I have put out food, water and hay. The hen did not fly at me while I did this and seemed to appreciate it. Every thing is looking good, thanks for all the help !! Will post updates.

 

[Harry4802]

What do you normally feed your flock? If you feed a flock raiser/all flock there is no need to get new food. Make sure there is a chick safe waterer so the little will have access to water, other than that mom will show it where the food is. How is the broody acting towards the rest of the flock?

Every thing looking good today, thanks for your help.